Net Casting 101

Class in session

Last night Tom asked Bill to teach him how to cast a net so at 9am this morning, Bill held class using his 6 and 8 foot nets.  He also got out his 4 foot net but it's a totally different technique. 

Net up over his shoulder and everything gathered, Tom prepares to toss it out there

The guys on the beach/pier always make it look SO easy.  Of course it's not.  There is quite a process and art to it.

Mid-air of a cast

First is making sure it's not tangled in any way.  D-uh but it can easily get tagled.

Nothing in the net this time

Then there is a very specific way of gathering it all up in your hand so it will release properly. 

Another cast - not too bad

Then you drape part of it up over the shoulder of the throwing arm.

Tom did catch this angry little crab - he was carefully pulled out and tossed back in

The free hand works it's way around the inside base of the remaining net to gather some up for the perfect cast.

Tom trying the 8 ft net - more to deal with

Then you stand straight towards the direction you are throwing and twist around at the waist to get enough momentum to throw it all out there.

Another try

Tom is left handed but does some things right handed ( because the world forces lefty's to).   He tried both ways.  The left worked best.  With the leads on the bottom, the nets are heavy.  The guys got quite a workout. 

Getting there

There are all sorts of laws/rules about what you can and can't eat.  I would have thought that if you catch it, you can eat it but NO.  It depends on the size of net, the size of mesh and so forth.  Some nets are for bait only. Very complecated and confusing.

Twisting around for another throw with the 4 foot net

While they didn't exactly catch dinner or anything (other than the angry  little crab) they learned a bunch and had fun.